The Genting Casino Coventry Blaze began their 2024/25 pre-season campaign with a convincing 10-2 victory over Milton Keynes Lightning.
Blaze entered the game without Brit Archie Hazeldine, for precautionary reasons, and Italy International Terrance Amorosa, who is set to fly into the UK next week.
In the absence of the pair, Brit Billy Thorpe of the Peterborough Phantoms was drafted in to bolster the defence, and homegrown Zaine McKenzie switched position from forward to make up the numbers.
In Kevin Moore and Zach Vinnell’s first game behind the bench, the new-look Blaze side got off to a scintillating start, scoring four goals within the opening ten minutes.
In his testimonial season, David Clements was first on the scoresheet finishing a pretty passing play from Zach Heintz and Jack Hopkins at 1.51.
American Man of the Match Chase Gresock was next to beat former Blaze netminder Jordan Hedley in the Milton Keynes goal with a heavy shot unassisted at 3.21.
Heintz and Hopkins again combined well at 4.40, setting up Estonian forward Morten Jurgens who finished neatly to make it 3-0.
Blaze made it four at 6.37 when returnee’s Kim Tallberg and Alessio Luciani combined to punish Milton Keynes short-handed.
The visitors got on the board at 15.47 when long-time Coventry forward Ross Venus scored against his former side, racing to pick up a loose puck and beat American Cam Gray in the Blaze net.
Blaze made it five just 19 seconds into the second period when Grayson Constable showcased his shot to fire past Hedley from the slot.
Gresock was awarded a second goal of the night at 24.35 following a video review, and a Nick Seitz breakaway on 33.57 gave Coventry a 7-1 lead.
Brit Will Bray replaced Gray in the Blaze net, and he pulled off an outstanding save to deny the Lighting on a breakaway before he was beaten on 37.50 by Milique Martelly to make it 7-2.
Blaze refused to take their foot off the gas, and one of the highlights of the night came at 38.50 when the influential Gresock fed 16-year-old Brynley Capps whose snipe found the net for eight.
Jurgens then bagged his second, two seconds before the middle period buzzer. A tenth for Coventry came on 46.28 as Gresock bagged his hat-trick and sixth point.
Photo credit: Scott Wiggins
